The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) recorded more than 4,000 meningitis cases nationwide between early February and early May 2025.
According to a statement signed by the Field Communication Officer (Press) of Médecins Sans Frontières | Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Abdulkareem Yakubu, and made available to the press in Kano on Wednesday, 70 per cent of those cases were treated in MSF-supported facilities in Kebbi and Sokoto states.
The statement further noted that bacterial meningitis—commonly found in Nigeria—is the most serious type of meningitis and can cause inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
For several weeks, MSF teams in Northwest Nigeria battled a meningitis outbreak, providing vital care for hundreds of patients and supporting a mass vaccination campaign. Their mobilisation significantly contributed to saving lives and reducing the number of cases.
In the first days of February 2025, many men, women, and children in northwestern Nigeria suddenly became very ill. Some experienced convulsions or became unconscious, and for those affected, the cause of the mysterious illness was not immediately clear.
Meningitis can affect people of all ages, but the highest proportion of reported cases was among children aged one to 15 years.
The statement added that children under the age of five, due to their weaker immune systems, are particularly at high risk of dying.
“In Kebbi, where most cases were reported, we admitted over 500 patients in the first 12 days of our intervention in the LGAs of Gwandu, Jega, and Aliero,” said Dr Sham’un Abubakar, MSF’s emergency coordinator in Kebbi.
“Unfortunately, survivors are also at risk of developing long-term neurological and cognitive problems,” he added.
“Patients may suffer hearing loss, vision problems, and seizures, as well as increased pressure on the skull and brain. Many survivors also remain at risk of experiencing a stroke.”
Ten-month-old Sha’ayau was admitted to Jega General Hospital in late April with multiple symptoms, including brain swelling. He was discharged days later but referred to a specialist to evaluate potential neurological complications.
“His older brother was hospitalised for meningitis weeks ago,” said his mother, Saratu Hamza. “But now he has lost his hearing.”
In Kebbi State, MSF teams partnered with UNICEF and WHO to support the state Ministry of Health in setting up an immunisation campaign. In just one week, close to half a million people were vaccinated, two-thirds of them under the age of 15.
“In Kebbi, where most cases were reported, we admitted over 500 patients in the first 12 days of our intervention in the LGAs of Gwandu, Jega, and Aliero,” said Dr Sham’un Abubakar.
“Even with the additional beds we installed, we had to place mattresses on the floor to accommodate the overflow of patients.”
Over a nine-week period, 2,095 patients were admitted for meningitis in MSF-supported facilities in Kebbi.
In neighbouring Sokoto State, MSF teams supported case management—including remote assistance—training, and the supply of medical materials in five primary healthcare centres and two general hospitals in Tambuwal LGA.
Meningitis is considered a major global health threat. According to a study based on 2021 data and published in The Lancet, more than two million cases of meningitis are estimated to occur globally each year, with over 200,000 resulting in death.
The disease, which causes recurrent outbreaks in the vast African belt area stretching from Senegal to Ethiopia—known as the “meningitis belt”—is highly lethal if left untreated. Studies show that 50 to 80 per cent of patients may die without prompt medical care.
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